German film manufacturer RKW presents its packaging films based on FPO® as a butter wrap at the Dairy Innovation Summit in Amsterdam from April 11th to 12th. A more eco-friendly option than customary alternatives, FPO® not only offers optimal product protection, but also provides an appealing and innovative look and feel. FPO® has been used in packaging for both food and non-food markets for some years, and proved particularly successful in the butter market. At point of sale, consumers value its paper-like appearance and touch, which link to the craftsmanship and natural origin of dairy products such as butter, margarine or cottage cheese.
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| With FPO®, RKW presents a more sustainable, aluminum-free butter wrap alternative |
The Dairy Innovation Summit is a well-known annual event for industry leaders from all over Europe to meet, network and drive their businesses. For RKW, as a globally operating expert in producing high-quality films, the exhibition is a welcome opportunity to present their sustainable and innovative filled polyolefin (FPO®) film to the dairy industry. FPO® film is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Commission.
Typically, aluminum is used in butter packaging. Acknowledging the perceived health risks of aluminum, FPO® is designed completely aluminum-free, while offering similar functionality. It is made from polyolefins to which RKW adds natural minerals. With over 50 percent mineral content, FPO® delivers an effective barrier against light, oxygen and water vapor. It is fat resistant, which is crucial for dairy products. Providing a reliable protection for the product, it presents considerably improved tear and dart drop resistance in comparison to more complex laminate solutions such as PE/ paper. Its superior dead-fold characteristics make FPO® easy to work with and the nature of the film makes for excellent printability.
Nowadays, consumers increasingly pay attention to high-quality, natural products. To them, FPO® films fit well with crafted manufacturing of products such as butter, margarine or cottage cheese, whilst its surface offers a pleasant and enhanced handling experience.
Natural and sustainable
FPO® not only offers proven functionality, but also features undoubted advantages in terms of sustainability. "The high proportion of minerals keeps the use of polymers to a minimum. Compared to other packaging solutions, FPO® consumes much less energy in the manufacturing process. The combination of these two factors lowers the possible impact on the environment," explains Peter Sevonius, Sales Manager at RKW Sweden, the RKW Center of Competence for compounding and FPO® film. The production facility in Sweden has nearly 30 years of experience in manufacturing customized, mineral-filled compounds and polyolefin-based films.
About the RKW Group
The RKW Group is an independent, family-owned company headquartered in Frankenthal, Germany. RKW is the market leader in the areas of hygiene and agricultural films, films for the beverage industry and packaging for powdery goods. In addition, the company makes films and nonwovens for medical applications, for the chemical and converting industries as well as for the construction sector. In the fiscal year 2017, RKW generated total sales of EUR 905 million. About 3,000 employees process 378,000 tonnes of plastic materials at 20 locations around the world.
